Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The streets just got a lot wider

Perhaps another option would be for the plows to clear to the curb; that's what they do on the streets like Nicollet, anyway. Either way, it'll make it easier for biking down the residential streets, which have become harrowing since X-mas.

Winter Parking Restrictions begin Feb. 11

Odd-side parking will help with emergency vehicle access and traffic flow; Snow Emergency routes and parkways not affected

To ensure that fire trucks and other emergency vehicles can continue to navigate Minneapolis neighborhoods,Winter Parking Restrictions will take effect beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. This means parking will be banned on the even side of many city streets until April 1, unless conditions allow the City to lift the ban earlier. Streets designated as parkways and Snow Emergency routes are not affected by Winter Parking Restrictions and vehicles can park on both sides of these streets.

Winter parking restrictions are being put in place becauseMinneapolis has had about 30 inches of snow so far this winter, with very little melting in between snowfalls. This means snow, even when it’s plowed, has begun to encroach on residential streets. That leads to the narrowing of streets that can pose a safety hazard when emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances, cannot navigate these streets to reach people who need assistance.

People parking in Minneapolis must follow these parking restrictions, or they could be ticketed and towed:

Thursday, Feb. 11 – Winter Parking Restrictions begin

Beginning at 8 a.m., parking is prohibited on the EVEN side of non-Snow-Emergency-routes. Parking isallowed on Snow Emergency routes, parkways and the ODD side of non-Snow Emergency-routes.